The walks will cover countryside near Stansted Airport

The government has approved a second runway at Stansted in Essex, to be built in the next 10 years.

However, a judicial review of the government's white paper will be heard in the High Court in December.

The Stop Stansted Expansion group wants walkers on Sunday's Runway Ramble to raise sponsorship for its legal fund.

It is challenging the government's plans in the Air Transport White Paper on 13 December.

People are outraged that so much that they hold dear could be sacrificed in the name of profit Carol Barbone Stop Stansted Expansion

Walk organisers said they are hoping for "thousands" of supporters to turn up on Sunday.

"This year's Runway Ramble will send yet another powerful signal to BAA and the government that we'll fight every step of the way to protect our community, heritage and countryside," said SSE campaign director Carol Barbone.

"People are outraged that so much that they hold dear could be sacrificed in the name of profit, especially since BAA has yet to prove a commercial case for a second runway - or spell out how it is going to pay for it given that the no frills carriers such as Ryanair are already making such a fuss about the cost burden that expansion would impose."

'No cheap flight'

She emphasised that the campaign will not be an "overnight" battle.

However, she was optimistic for the long-term, saying that "increasingly" people were questioning the need for expansion, particularly the impact on the current heritage and environment, as well as the "legacy we leave for our children".

Ms Barbone said that just as there was no such thing as a free lunch, "there is no such thing as a cheap flight".

"There is a cost - and that cost is the break-up of entire communities, the impact on the urbanisation of the broader community and the impact on the global environment."

Three circular walks of 5, 7 and 10 miles will start and finish at Molehill Green, which would be "obliterated" by the development of a second runway, Ms Barbone said.